A regular meeting of the KFICA ExCom members was held today via videoconference call. During the meeting, new Working Groups Co-Chairs of the Foreign Investors’ Council chaired by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan were elected.

KFICA Governing Board Chairman, Managing Partner for Kazakhstan and Central Asia, EY Erlan Dosymbekov announced the results of the voting:

• Ms. Ahlem Friga-Noy, Country chair in Kazakhstan, TotalEnergies was elected as FIC Energy, Environment and Oil & Gas Working Group Сo-Chair from foreign side.

Previously, this position was held by the Managing Director of Agip Caspian Sea BV, Mr. Nicolo Aggogeri. In connection with the appointment to another international position of Mr. Aggogeri, - the position of the KFICA ExCom member is now held by the newly elected Head for Central Asia/Agip Caspian Sea BV Managing Director, Eni S.p.A, Mr. Luciano Vasques.

• Mr. Saken Zhumashev, Managing Partner KPMG in Central Asia was elected as FIC Digitalization Working Group Сo-Chair from foreign side.

An initiative of creating Digitalization working group within Foreign Investors’ Council was presented and supported at the KFICA annual general meeting 2021 to consolidate joint efforts of the FIC member and non-member foreign and local companies, main IT players, as well as potential and new foreign investors in promoting digital agenda in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The FIC Digitalization working group will be focused on achieving four main goals:

1. Raise awareness by acting as a facilitator in building the communication process within the FIC as well as between the FIC and the market.
2. Share knowledge and ideas by developing proposals for the promotion of digitalization across various economic sectors of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
3. Public promotion of the FIC digital initiatives to contribute to the continuous exchange of experience between the FIC members and other companies of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
4. Attract foreign investment.

It should be reminded that in September 1, 2020 at the State of the Nation Address the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted that digitalization is a basic element of all reforms and is a key instrument for achieving national competitiveness.

The online meeting of ExCom members was also attended by the following company-members of the Association EY, Anadolu, ADB, Baker & McKenzie, Deloitte, Deutsche Bank, GE, KNAUF, Marubeni, Mitsubishi, Philip Morris, Polpharma, Polymetal, TOTAL, KPMG.